26S INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES.

danger

as soon as the patient's strength and spirits are re-cruited. It is more safe for him to go frequently intothe bath, than to continue long at. a time ; and it isoften necessary to repeat it several times before it hasthe desired effect.

It has sometimes happened, after all other meansof procuring a stool has been tried to no purpose, thatthis was brought about by immersing the patient's'lower extremities in cold water, or making him walkupon a wet pavement, and dashing his legs and thighswith cold water. This method, when others fail, atleast merits a trial. It is indeed attended with somebut a doubtful remedy is better than none.

In desperate cases it is common to give quicksilver.This may be given to the quantity of several ounces,or even a pound, but should not exceed that.* Whenthere is reason to expect a mortification of the guts,this medicine ought not to be tried. In this case itcannot cure the patient, and will only hasten hisdeath. But when the obstruction is occasioned byany cause that can be removed by force, quicksilveris not only a proper medicine, but the best that canbe administered, as it is the fittest body we know offor making its way through the intestinal canal.

If the disease proceeds from a rupture, the patientmust be laid with his head very low, and the intes-tines returned by gentle pressure with the hand. Ifthis 1 , with fomentations and clysters, should not suc-ceed, recourse must be had to a surgical operation,which may give the patient relief.

Such as would avoid this excruciating and dangerousdisease, must take care never to be too long withouta stool. Some who have died of it have had severalpounds of hard dvyjwces taken out of their guts.They should likewise beware of eating too freely of

* When quicksilver is given in too large quantities, it defeats itsown intention, as it pulls down the bottom of the stomach, whichprevents it getting over the pylorus. In this case the patient shouldbe hung up by the heels, in order that the quicksilver may be dis-charged by his mouth.